Direct Imaging and Spectroscopy of a Planetary Mass Candidate Companion to a Young Solar Analog

Authors: David Lafrenière, Ray Jayawardhana, Marten H. van Kerkwijk (University of Toronto)

(Submitted on 8 Sep 2008)

Abstract: We present near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy of a planetary mass candidate companion to 1RXS J160929.1-210524, a roughly solar-mass member of the ~5 Myr-old Upper Scorpius association. The object, separated by 2.22″ or 330 AU at ~150 pc, has infrared colors and spectra suggesting a spectral type of L4(-2/+1) and a temperature of 1800(-100/+200) K.

The H- and K-band spectra provide clear evidence of low surface gravity, and thus youth. Based on the widely used DUSTY models, we infer a mass of 8(-1/+4) Mjup.

If gravitationally bound, this would be the lowest mass companion imaged around a normal star thus far, and its existence at such a large separation would pose a serious challenge to theories of star and planet formation.

Comments: Submitted to ApJL

Subjects: Astrophysics (astro-ph)

Cite as: arXiv:0809.1424v1 [astro-ph]

Submission history

From: David Lafreni\`ere [view email]

[v1] Mon, 8 Sep 2008 20:00:05 GMT (218kb)

http://arxiv.org/abs/0809.1424